Rank: Lieutenant Colonel _x000D_ Branch of troops: Artillery _x000D_ A boy was born in a large and friendly peasant family on October 25, 1919 in the small mountain village of Urada, Shamil District. They named him Magomed. The boy was brought up in excellent Dagestan traditions: respect for elders, courage, love for his land, devotion to his people, reverent attitude towards women, towards mountain culture. _x000D_ Knowing that there is little fertile land in Dagestan, Magomed dreamed of turning the Gidatlinskaya valley into a blooming garden, to be an an agronomist. He plunged headlong into student life. In addition to studying, he fell in love with sports: volleyball, basketball, high jumping, was fond of shooting. In 1939 there was anxiety in the air, tension is felt, people talking about war in Spain, the Japanese aggression on Lake Khasol and Khalkhin Gol, the ideas of fascism about the Aryan nation. This atmosphere called for vigilance, for increased military training. Magomed changed his mind and firmly decided to become a military man. _x000D_ Being the third year of the Agricultural Institute, he transferred to the Krasnodar Military Infantry School. It was hard for a freedom-loving Dagestani to obey someone else's will! The Company Commander spent more than one hour convincing the young man that in the army it was necessary to follow the Commander's orders. The Commander's sincerity, his delicacy, was also remembered by the young man for life, for future military leader. _x000D_ Since the first days of the war, Tankaev had been at the front. He commanded a platoon, a company, a regiment. Everywhere he showed himself to be a competent, caring commander. This is confirmed by the lines from the award list: “... Magomed Tankaevich could be seen only where it was especially hard for his soldiers. Sombre by complexion, he was completely blackened by stress ... "_x000D_ Those regiments commanded by Magomed were highly awarded: 823 Red Banner Rifle Regiment for the assault and capture of the city of Debica and successful actions in the Lvov-Sandomierz operation were given the honorary name" Dembitsky "; the 460th Regiment was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky for valor and courage displayed during capture of Rybnik. _x000D_ The Victory Day on May 9, 1945 Magomed Tankaev had celebrated in the liberated Prague. But the war for Magomed Tankayevich on May 9 did not end. He still had to fight with a fierce retreat and defeat of the enemy. By the end of the war M. Tankaev was in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For feats of arms during the Patriotic War, our countryman was awarded three Orders of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, many medals. _x000D_ After the war, Magomed Tankayevich decided to remain in the Armed Forces, to serve the Motherland with faith and truth. But since he was firmly convinced that knowledge was needed for military affairs, in 1948 he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy, and in 1960 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. And both did with a gold medal.